Cleaning tool for boxes of tool joints



J. K; MATHEws CLEANING Toor. FOR BOXES loF Tool. JOINTSv Filed'Nov,12,1957 v 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR. J Maf/16ms Mm l Arm/way Jan- 26,1960 J. K. MATHl-:ws

CLEANING TOOL FOR BOXES OF TOOL JOINTS 3 Shee'cs-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 12,1957 INVENTOR. J K. /Whe//z/ Qin@ A TTR/VE y Jan. 26, 1960 J. K. MATHEws2,922,174

CLEANING Toor. FOR BoxEs oF TooL JomTs 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 12,1957 l "will 2,922,174 CLEANING TooL FOR Boxes oF rrooL JolNrs J. K.Mathews, Enid, Okla., assign'or of two-thirds 4to A. E. Hickman and '.I.W. Gordon, Jr., both of Pampa, Tex. j

Application November 12, 19157, Serial No. 695,603

6 Claims. (CLIS-104.1) Y v This invention relates to a device forcleaning the shoulders and threads of the box members of tool joints,such as used for interconnecting sections of drill pipe in the rotarydrilling of bore holes. The threads of tool joints must make up tightlyto prevent loosening thereof and to assure maximum contact of thethreads to Withstand the Vibration and heavy loads to which drill pipesare subjected. In order to facilitate making upof tight joints and toprevent galling of the threads, they are usually coated with a jointcompound, which works satisfactorily as long as the threads are clean,but after the joints have been in service, the threads become cloggedand/ or coated with drilling mud and a mixture of such mud and jointcompound that prevent tight makeup of the joints. Also, when the drillpipe sections have been.

out of use for a time, the threads tend to rust and the mud dries on thethreads. Also, in handling the pipe sections on the ground, dirt mayenter the boxes and accumulate in the spaces between the threads, tofurther the ditiiculty of maintaining tight joints.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention tovprovide a simple and inexpensive tool for cleaning the shoulders andthreads of the box members of tool joints when the drill pipe is rackedwithin the derrick or onthe ground.

Other objects of the invention are to `provide a thread cleaning toolwith movable brushes that are adapted to be turned freely into the boxand to expandautomatically under pressurecontact with the threads whenthe brushes are fully` engaged; to provide for immediate release of thepressure and retraction of the brushes totfree the tool for easywithdrawal and fallout of the material that has been removed from thethreads; to `provide 4the tool with sufficient initial contact of thebrushes with the threads of the box to draw the brushes into the box;and to provide the brushes with bristles that sweep the end faces andinner shoulders of the box when the cleaning pressure is applied.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cleaning toolwherein the bristles 'ride into and out of the spaces between thethreads for producing radial scraping action across the faces of thethreads as well as a circumferential action during turning of thebrushes within the box and at the time the greatest pressure is applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide the cleaning tool with athrust bearing to reduce friction between the fixed and rotary elementsof the tool.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention as hereinafterpointed out, I have provided improved structure, the preferred form ofwhich is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a thread cleaning tool constructed inaccordance with the present invention and showing the tool in positionfor insertion into the box of a tool joint.

Fig. 2 is a cross section through the box of the tool joint and showingthe tool in side elevation with the arent O ice 2 bearing or stopelement of the tool seated on the internal shoulder, whereafter furtherindrawing -of the bristles and axial pressure on the shank of the toolresults in spreading of the brushes to enhance bearing contact of thebristles with the threads and end face of the box.

Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig.- 4 is a similar section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on thel line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the parts of the tool shown .indisassembled relation to better show the construction.

Fig. 7 is a section similar to Fig. 2, but showing the tool fullyengaged with the box. i

Fig. 8 is a plan view of one ofthe brush heads, Vto better illustratethe longitudinal taper thereof.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a tool constructed in accordance .with the presentinvention to clean the internal shoulders, threads and end faces of thebox member A of a tool joint. For example, the box member of a standardtool joint comprises a cylindrical collar B that is carried on the endof a drill pipe C. The collar B has a tapered socket D opening inwardlyfrom the outer end face E and terminating in an internal shoulder F andis provided with internal threads G. The threads G preferably start ininwardly spaced relation to the end face E to leave a smoothly taperedannular face or land portion H.. The pin of the pin member (not shown)of a tool joint generally conforms to the inner contour of .the boxmember and tits tightly therewith, with alll of the threads of the pinengaging the faces of the threads of the box, so that each thread iscapable of ,taking its part of the load. However, when dirt, scale, oldcompound, and other foreign materials accumulate on the threads G, endface E, land H, or the shoulder F, the pin and box cannot be set upproperly, with the result that the surfaces of the pin member cannotengage all of the surfaces in the box member, consequently, uneven loadis applied to the threads and failure of the joint is likely to occur.Also, an inadequate seal results between the pinv and box members, sothat leakage of the drilling fluid is apt to occur to cause loss ofpressure and erosion of the parts of the joint.

Clean surfaces result in more effective seating of the shoulder F andadded strength afforded by the shoulder seal results in a substantiallystronger and trouble free drill pipe. 'In order to assure a properconnectionof the tool joint members, the faces to be contacted must becleanrand free of foreign matter.

In carrying out the invention, the tool 1 is provided with brushelements 2 and 3 that are easily inserted, but whereby pressure of thebrushes is automatically increased to effect jamming of the bristlesinto the roots of the threads, and to produce a wiping and scrapingvaction sufiicient to clean all the contact surfaces of thejoint.

The preferred form of the invention comprises a shank 4 having a head 5on the end thereof and carrying brush holders 6 and 7 containing 'thebacks 8 of the brush elements 2 and 3. The backs 8 carry bristles 9. Thebrush holders 6 and 7 are movably mounted on the shank 4 to move thebristles 9 into and out of contact with the surfaces to be cleaned andare actuated automatically responsive to telescoping of the shank 4. Theshank 4, therefore, includes a head section 10 and a body section 11.The head section 10 has an axial bore 12 extending inwardly of an endthereof for slidably containing a pilot 13 on the forward end of a bodysection 11 of the shank. The opposite end 14 is shaped to be gripped bya chuck 15 of a brace or a portable hand drill, which may beelectrically or pneumatically operated. If the shank is to be rotated bymeans of a brace, the end 14 of the shank is of tapered Vpolygonalshape, as shown in the drawings, and conforms to the end of a standardauger bit, as shown in Fig. 2. If the shank 4 is to be actuated by ahand drill, the end 14 conforms to the end of a standard drill bit. Thehead and main sections 10 and 11 of the shank are preferably ofcorresponding diameter, therefore, the pilot 13 is a reduced extensionof the body section 11 and fits slidably within the bore 12, the bore 12and pilot 13 being of length to provide the necessary relative axialmovement of the shank sections, as later to be described. The outer endof the head section 10 of the shank has a reduced extension 16 providedwith an internally threaded axial bore 17 and forming an annular stopshoulder 18 for mounting the head 5, previously mentioned. The head isin the form of spider 19 having a center. hub portion 20 and radiallyextending arms 21 adapted to seat upon the shoulder F of the box, aslater described. In order to provide the hub portion 20 of necessarythickness and to permit the arms 21 to engage the taper of the shoulderF, the outer ends of the arms are beveled on their outer faces, asindicated at 22, and terminate in arcuate edges to t freely within theouter diameter of the shoulder F. The hub 20 of the spider 19 has anaxial opening 23 that is counterbored as at 24 from the inner face 25 ofthe spider to provide an annular shoulder 26. Securely retained in thecounterbore 24 and seated on the shoulder 26 is an outer race 27 of anantifriction bearing 28. The innerrace 29 of the bearing is pressed uponthe reduced extension 16 of the head section 10 of the shank 4 torotatably mount the shank in the head 5. The head 5 is fixed to thereduced extension 16 by means of a washer 30 and a screw 31, the shank32 of the screw being engaged by the threads of the bore 17, as shown inFig. 7.

The brush holders 6 and 7 are channel shaped and include a web 33 andside anges 34 and 35. The web 33 of the holders is preferably wider atthe forward ends 36 than at the rear ends 37, and the flanges 34 and 35slope inwardly to cooperate with the web in forming an elongated taperedsocket 38 of dovetail cross section. The narrower rear ends 37 of theholders are closed by an end flange 39. The backs 8 of the brushes eachcomprise a block 40 having longitudinally tapering side faces 41 and 42sloping inwardly toward the bristles 9 to conform with the dovetailcross section and wedge shape of the holders, whereby the backs of thebrushes are adapted to'be firmly engaged in the holders, but areremovable for replacement of the brushes when the bristles become worn.

The bristles 9, as previously described, are arranged in tufts with thetufts 43 at the rear ends of the brushes being longer to sweep the endface E of the box when the brush is actuated, while the shorter tufts 44engage and sweep the threads G, as later to be described.

The forward ends 36 of the holders have spaced apart ears 45-46 and47-48 which extend laterally from the webs 33 thereof. The ears 45-46are spaced apart to accommodate the head section of the shanktherebetween, and the ears 47-48 are spaced apart to engage the outersides of ears 45-46, whereby the ears are connected to the head sectionof the shank by a hinge pin 49, the hinge pin passing 'through openings50 in the ears and a registering opening 51 that extends transverselythrough the head section of the shank. The opposite or rear ends of theholders each have a pair of spaced apart ears 5253 and 54-55,respectively, whereby the rear ends of the brush holders are connectedtogether and to the body section 11 of the shank by toggles 56 and 57located on the respective sides of the shank 4 and each comprising apair of links 58 and 59. The outer ends of the links 58 are pivotallyconnected with the ears 52` and 53 of the brush holder 6 by a transversepin 60 that extends through openings 61 in the ends of the links andthrough openings 62 of the ears. The opposite ends of the links 58 haveopenings 62 which register with a transverse opening 63 through the bodysection of the shank for passing a pin 64.

The other links 59 of the toggles are also pivotally mounted on the pin64 and have their outer ends pivotally connected with the ears 54 and 55of the other holder by a transverse pin 65. The pins 49, 60, 64 and 65may be in the form of rivets, as shown.

In using the tool constructed and assembled as described, the end 14 ofthe shank 4 is inserted within a chuck 15 of a brace, portable drill, orother rotating mechanism bywhich the tool may be rotated about the axisof the shank 4. The toggles 56 and 57 are collapsed to bring the rearends of the brush holders as close together as possible. The tool isthen inserted in the tapered socket D of a tool joint box member A. Theforepart of the tool will enter freely within the tapered socket untilthe tips of the foremost bristles 44 engage the threads G. Then, uponturning of the shank 4, the engagement of the bristles with the threadswill cause the tool to be drawn into the socket of the box member untilthe arms 21 of the head member 5 engage the annular internal shoulder Fof the box member, whereupon the bevels 22 on the forward faces of thearms contact the beveled shoulder to automatically center the headsection 10 of the shank 4 within the socket of the box. This will stopfurther longitudinal movement of the head section 10 of the shank 4, butfurther rotation of the shank 4 and the brushes carried thereby willforce the bristles forwardly to the foremost end of the threads.Simultaneously, an axial thrust is applied to the shank 4 to causesliding movement of the pilot 13 of the body section 11 of the shank inthe bore 12 of the head section 10. This relative movement of the shanksections causes the toggles 56 and 57 to force the brush holders apartand to enhance the pressure contact of the bristles with the faces ofthe threads G. With further rotation of the shank, the brushes will turnwithin the socket and wipe or scrape olf any foreign matter adhering toboth the front and rear faces of the threads. Since the brushes can moveno further in an axial direction, the bristles will tend to-be movedforwardly by contact with the threads until they can go no further,whereupon the ends of the bristles slide retractively across the -facesof the threads. Consequently, the bristles move circumferentially andtransversely of the rear faces of the threads to clean both face sidesthereof. The longer bristles 43 at the rear ends of the brushes willoverlap and wipe olf any accumulatedrrnatter on the end face E of thebox.

After turning the tool a few times, the axial pressure is released, andthe body section 11 of the shank will be drawn retractively to break thetoggles and automatically move the brushes toward the shank and therebyrelease the pressure of the bristles on the threads. When the pressureis thus released, the entire tool may be readily withdrawn for cleaninganother box member of a tool joint.

When the bristles become worn or disarranged, the worn brushes arereplaced with new brushes. This is readily effected by removing thescrew 31 and backing the head 5 from olf the reduced extension of thehead section of the shank. 'I'he heads of the worn brushes may then beslid longitudinally from the tapering sockets 38 of the brush holders 6and 7, after which new brushes may be slid into the holders. The head 5is then replaced, followed by the washer 30 and retaining screw 31.

From the foregoing, it is obvious that I have provided a simple andreliable device for cleaning the surfaces and threads of the box membersof a tool joint. It is also ob- |vi'ous that the device is easilyinserted because of the indrawing' action applied to the bristles by thethreads. It is also obvious that the action of the brushes thoroughlycleans both faces of the threads of foreign matter. It is also obviousthat the tool is easily withdrawn because of the automatic release ofpressure of the bristles against the threads of the box member.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A tool for cleaning threads of a tool joint member or a drill pipe,said tool including a turning shank having one end adapted to be grippedin the chuck of a turning device, stop means on the other end of theshank having a bevel face for engaging an annular part of the tool jointmember for centering said tool coaxially of the tool joint member andforming a rotary support for said shank, elongated brush elementscarried by said shank and having outwardly extending bristles forengaging threads of the tool. joint member for drawing the brushelements axially along said threads, and means on the shank andconnected with the brush elements and acting against said centeringmeans for increasing radial thrust of the bristles against said threadsupon axial thrust of the turning shank.

2. A tool for cleaning the internal threads of the box member of a tooljoint of a drill pipe, said tool including a turning shank having oneend adapted to be gripped in the chuck of a turning device, a spider onthe other end of the shank having a bevel face for engaging an annularshoulder within the box member for centering said tool coaxially of thetool joint member and forming a rotary support for said shank, elongatedbrush elements carried by said shank and having outwardly extendingbristles for engaging threads of the tool joint member for drawing thebrush elements axially along said threads to seat the spider, and meanson the shank and connected with the brush elements and acting againstsaid spider for increasing radial thrust of the bristles against saidthreads upon axial thrust of said shank in one direction and forreleasing the bristles upon withdrawal of the tool from the box member.

3. A tool as described in claim 2 in which the brush elements haveradial bristles on the ends of the brush elements remote from the spiderand having ends extending beyond ends of the thread engaging bristlesfor sweeping end faces of the boxes when the spider engages said annularshoulder of the box member.

4. A tool for cleaning the threads of a tool joint member of a drillpipe, said tool including a turning shank having head and body sectionsrelatively movable in the longitudinal direction of said shank, brushholders of channel shape and providing elongated tapering sockets ofdovetail cross section, brushes having backs conforming to the shape ofsaid sockets of the holders and having radially projecting bristles,means pivotally connecting the end of the brush holders having the widerends of the sockets to the head section of said shank, toggles pivotallyconnecting the other ends of the brush holders to the body section ofthe shank for supporting the brush holders to maintain tightness of thebrushes when the bristles are engaged with the threads of the tool jointunder axial thrust of the turning shank, and a stop member providingrotatable support on the head section of the shank and having a beveledperiphery adapted to engage an internal shoulder of said tool jointmember to stop axial movement of the brush holders under said axialthrust and whereby an axial thrust applied to the body section of saidshank eiects actuation of the toggles to increase the contact of thebristles of the brushes with said threads and to release said contactpressure on the Athreads when the body section of the shank is movedaxially in reverse direction to said thrust to withdraw the tool fromthe. tool joint member.

5. A tool for cleaning internal threads of the box member of a tooljoint of a drill pipe in which the box member has an internal annularshoulder encircling the bore of the tool joint at the inner terminalends of the threads, said tool including a turning shank havingrelatively axially reciprocable head and body sections, a support4forming a part of said tool for bridging said bore and having beveledcircumferential portions to seat on the internal shoulder and to providea journal for centering the head section coaxially of the bore of thetool joint, brush elements each having forward ends pivotally connectedwith the head section of the turning shank and having bristles extendingoutwardly with ends of said bristles being adapted to engage theinternal threads of the box member for drawing the brush elementsaxially into the box member to seat the beveled circumferential portionsof the support on the internal annular shoulder, and toggles pivotallyconnecting outer ends of the brush elements with the body section oftheturnng shank for increasing radial pressure of the ends of thebristles against said threads responsive to axial movement of the bodysection of the turning shank when the support is seated on saidshoulder.

6. A tool for cleaning internal threads of the box member of a tooljoint of a drill pipe in which the box member has an internal annularshoulder encircling the bore of the tool joint at the inner terminalends of the threads, said tool including a turning shank havingrelatively axially reciprocable head and body sections, a supportforming a part of said tool for bridging said bore and having beveledcircumferential portions to seat on the internal shoulder and to providea journal for centering the head section within the bore of the tooljoint, brush holders each having forward ends pivotally connected withthe head section of the turning shank, brushes removably carried by theholders and having bristles extending outwardly with ends thereofadapted to engage the internal threads of the box member for drawing thebrush elements axially into the box member to seat the support on theinternal annular shoulder, and toggles pivotally connecting oppositeends of the brush holders with the body section of the turning shank forincreasing radial pressure of the ends of the bristles against saidthreads responsive to axial movement of the body section of the turningshank when the support is seated on said shoulder.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 444,710McPherson Ian. 13, 1891 940,060 Ranney Nov. 16, 1909 982,566 Berg c Jan.24, 1911 1,539,984 Wolf June 2, 1925 1,567,507 Howard Dec. 29, 19252,128,822 Horne Aug. 30, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 43,300 France Ian. 22,1934 (1st Addition to 745,754) 196,797 Germany Mar. 30, 1908

